So, folks, we're down to our top 6. This was the week we lost Mark last year, so I fear what top 6 week will bring this year. However, tonight's 2 hour long show is guaranteed to bring the filler, so at least we know that's there. Excited? Cat is wearing something purple and, in all honesty, fairly boring. Plus, I'm completely not feeling her hair tonight. In good news however, it's ON! Melissa's intro is all about moving one of her legs. Brandon is just crazy good, Kayla has more life than usual (I might describe her as a firecracker based on this), Evan is cute, Jeanine is good but not necessarily memorable, and Ade is great and ends by jumping into a split. Yowza. Guest jidging alongside Mary and Nigel this week is Lil’ C.
Note: As per the usual, this is the abridged recap. For a full version, head to sytycd.ca
The top 3 guys are starting off this week with a Sonja routine, which she describes as Willy Wonka-esque. Color. Me. Pumped. Like super-pumped. And, um watching this number, I was absolutely right to be pumped. This ROCKS. Every one of them has a bunch of great moments. My eyes were probably most drawn to Brandon, but this is twisted, fun, dynamic, and has great musicality. Evan may fall out of sync at the end too, but overall, really good start to the night. Lil’ C thought all of them were fantastic. Mary just loved it, yes she did! Nigel agrees with what’s been said and doesn’t think past seasons could match this level.
The first pairing is Jeanine and Ade, doing a Louis Van Amstel Samba. It’s to Lady GaGa, so I automatically have problems with it. Thankfully, the dancing seems to be pretty good. They're certainly having fun, although I'd say neither is connecting to the other amazing. They're doing the steps and nailing the feeling great, I just would have liked a bit stronger vibe between them. Mary loved the first twenty seconds but if fell apart after that for her. Lil’ C did not get the explosion of excellence he needed. Nigel thinks Ade didn’t alter his style enough for the genre, but that Jeanine was great, which is easier for her because she’s pretty.
Kayla has the first solo of the night. It’s quite good, although it gets a bit busy at the end. But it’s certainly a very good solo.
Evan and Melissa are up with a Tyce Broadway routine. The costuming is a little sparse and not in the good way, because it distracts. That being said, this routine is actually a ton of fun, but because of the performance. Evan's footwork is great, but Melissa outshines him on leaps. They're kind of adorable together though. Lil C thought it was an A, but he wanted an A+. Mary thought it was fun and entertaining. Nigel thought it wasn’t technically demanding, but they needed personality to sell it and they succeeded.
Ade's solo is, as always, full of huge leaps, spins, and dynamic movement. I, as always, really enjoyed it. And his choice to wear an open button down actually helped seriously because it draws the eye to his actual movements, which is great.
Kayla and Brandon are the last pair to perform together. They've got a Stacey Tookey contemporary about a married man's mistress. This is really fabulous. Brandon is phenomenal. Like, absolutely amazing. Kayla is also no slouch and bringing. But overall, this routine is just amazingly good. I will definitely be rewatching this one. Definitely an A+. Lil’ C calls it beyond amazing. Mary loved every second of it. Nigel thought they were technically excellent.
Melissa is soloing to Nina Simone, so points for that. Her pointe feet perfectly hit the tinkling piano keys, so points for that. She looks amazing dancing, so points for that. She may not have the most motion, but it shows a level of restraint that certain dancers, ahem, lack in their solos. I found myself more excited by her solo than either of the previous ones.
Jeanine and Ade are back with a NappyTabs hip-hop routine. Unfortunately, they're still not connecting. Early on, it almost seemed like they were dancing two different routines. I don't think it's my bias that tells me that Ade is dancing circles around Jeanine though. She just kind of seems fatigued. But this was not the knockout performance that either of them needed. Lil’ C felt Ade finally had that dirty groove he’s shown in the past. Mary thinks they won’t be going anywhere after that performance. Nigel is glad to applaud them instead of the choreography, because they got down.
Brandon's solo is next and he's again soloing to something overly bombastic. However, his dancing is just amazing. Like, the boy should be asked back to choreograph, that's how good it was. All three judges give him a standing ovation.
Melissa and Evan are back with a Louis Van Amstel quickstep. It's certainly more fun than the typical quickstep, and these two are still adorable together. Comparing this to something like Asuka and Vitolio's awful week one quickstep this is a revealtion. Compared to the other number this week, I'm not sure how this is gonna stack up. But it's definitely fun. Why does that word follow Evan around?
Lil’ C thought Evan danced bigger than he ever has before and that Melissa was fabulous. Mary found the choreography amazing but their dancing fell short. Nigel wouldn’t call it one of the best routines of the night.
Jeanine's solo is next. It's got personality, and it's fun, but, I'm sorry, I still don't see what everyone sees in her. Like, I found it to be the weakest solo so far. Please, can someone explain the Jeanine love to me?
Evan's solo wraps those up for the night. His solos are always so much fun to watch, and this one is no different. I love his style.
Kayla and Brandon deliver our final partner routine of the night, a Doriana Sanchez disco. Dancing-wise, this. is. AWESOME. Production-values wise, however, sheesh, could the lights and camera focus be any more distracting. Thankfully, by the middle the soft-focus of the beginning is gone, but dear lord, this is just banoodles on the actual dancing and performance front. Kayla in particular is phenomenal, not that Brandon is anything less than flipping fantastic. Kayla can't breathe at the end. Lil’ C rambles and makes no sense whatsoever, but I think he liked it. Mary thinks they had a home-run night tonight. Nigel loved it so much he gets up and runs around.
Our final routine of the night is the top 3 girls getting THEIR Sonja routine, about superheroes. This isn't as good as the boys number, but its still good. Kayla probably draws the most focus, but they all appear to be on roughly an even level. Again, though, the lighting and camerawork/editing is doing them NO favors. Lil’ C thought they were all a little too held back. Mary thought they were all strong, versatile, and sexy but that Kayla stood out as best. Nigel loved their chemistry and found their strength equal.
ROUTINE RANKINGS:
1) Kayla and Brandon- Contemporary
2) Kayla and Brandon- Disco
3) Top 3 Boys- Contemporary
4) Melissa and Evan- Broadway
5) Jeanine and Ade- Hip-Hop
6) Melissa and Evan- Quickstep
7) Top 3 Girls- Contemporary
8) Jeanine and Ade- Samba
SOLO RANKINGS
1) Brandon
2) Melissa
3) Ade
4) Evan
5) Kayla
6) Jeanine
OVERALL RANKINGS:
1) Brandon
2) Kayla
3) Melissa
4) Evan
5) Ade
6) Jeanine
WHO SHOULD GO HOME: Jeanine had the weakest night. Sadly, Ade was probably the worst of the boys tonight. However, I agree with Mary that this should be an overall evaluation, so I think it should be Evan and Jeanine going home tomorrow night.
WHO WILL GO HOME: Beats me.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
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